Because each manuscript and each author has unique needs, I offer a range of options. Every manuscript review begins with a report, and authors can request additional services.

Developmental Editing Report

Every developmental edit begins with a full manuscript review. The report details the manuscript's strengths and weaknesses. It also offers concrete revision strategies that target each element that might be improved—overall organization, chapter-to-chapter flow, logic and evidential integrity, theoretical framework, rhetorical strategies, and style. These reports typically run between six and eight pages and are intended to provide a clear blueprint for author revision. Once a developmental editing report has been delivered, I offer a one-hour follow-up meeting via phone or Zoom to answer any questions.

Developmental Editing Report and Margin Notes

For authors who want more guidance, Stage 1 can also include margin notes throughout the manuscript. Margin notes complement the developmental editing report by grounding its big-picture recommendations in the manuscript itself. They pinpoint specific places where the writing and argument could be strengthened and explain how to resolve each issue. They also identify passages that work exceptionally well. Margin notes flag where the structure and organization might be fine-tuned, mark passages where more information or a transition would help orient the reader, and point out where the theoretical framework or core themes might be sharpened, expanded, or clarified. They can also model how to clarify unclear wording or improve the flow between sentences and paragraphs. Together, the report and margin notes give authors a clear path through revision.

Optional Follow-up Report After Revision

Once an author has revised the manuscript, I can read the new draft and write a shorter follow-up report. It assesses how well the revisions resolve the problems identified in the first report, flags any new issues that may have been introduced during revision, and outlines what remains to be completed before the manuscript is ready for submission—either to a publisher with which the book is under contract or to potential publishers.

Optional Line Editing After Revision

Once the structure and argument are tight and persuasive, the manuscript is ready for line editing. At this stage I polish the prose so that transitions between sentences and paragraphs flow seamlessly and the wording is both concise and exact. I also attend to the book’s key terms and central themes, making sure they are used consistently and placed where they carry the most weight. Professional line editing enhances the author's voice and ensures that the book’s main arguments land with full force.

Stage 1: Shaping and Refining Content and Structure

Stage 2: Polishing Prose and Narrative Flow

Additional Services

Book Proposals

A strong proposal shows acquisitions editors not only what your book argues but why it matters now and who will read it. I help scholars shape the overview, chapter summaries, audience and market discussion, comparables, and sample chapter into a persuasive package.

Responding to Peer Review

Readers’ reports can be contradictory and difficult for an author to evaluate and prioritize. As a peer reviewer for academic presses and journals myself, I help authors distinguish essential revisions from optional ones and incorporate feedback into a clear, actionable revision strategy.

Custom Support

Not every project needs a full developmental edit. If you need help with a single chapter, an introduction that isn’t landing, a grant or fellowship narrative, or a revise-and-resubmit, I’ll design a package around your specific task, timeline, and budget. Get in touch if you would like to discuss options.